France's Dewoitine D.520 fighter

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Dewoitine D.520 fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Dewoitine D.520 fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Dewoitine D.520 fighter:

Dewoitine D.520 fighter:

Design

The design of the Dewoitine D.520 was first started in November 1936 as a private venture by Emile Dewoitine. It was to meet a 1936 requirement for a single engine fighter. On April 3, 1938, the French government accepted the design.

The cockpit was located well back and caused problems with landing and taxiing.

The construction was all metal stressed skin.

Compared With a Bf.109 E-3

A Messerschmitt Bf.109 E-3 was forced down in French territory in early 1940 and this was compared with a D.520. It was found that the D.520 was slower but more maneuverable than the Bf. 109.

Prototype

The prototype was flown by Marcel Doret on October 2, 1938. The engine overheated and he was unable to get up to 325 mph as was expected. He forgot to lower the undercarriage during a landing and wrecked the prototype in 1938. The next prototypes were flown in January and May 1939.

Production

There were 200 ordered by May 1939. This was later increased to 710. The Vichy increased it to 740.
There were orders placed for over 2,300 by late 1939.

The first production model was flown on November 2, 1939.

By April 1940 the orders for the D.520 stood at 2,320. They were to be manufactured at a rate of 350 per month.

In May 1940 production was ramped up to ten per day. 437 were completed by the armistice.

Vichy France then built 478 from July 1941 to 1943.

Prototypes: 3

Dewoitine D.520: 775, 915

Manufacturer: SNCAM

Production:

? - January 1940: 13

February - April 1940: 126

May - June 1940: 311

Vichy France: Summer 1941 - December 1942

Variants

Dewoitine D.520-01: Prototype. Had Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 engine (890 HP). A two bladed wooden propeller with fixed pitch. The radiators were in the wings.

Dewoitine D.520-02: Prototype. Had radiator under the fuselage. Tail surfaces were made larger. It had a three bladed electrically controlled propellar. The canopy was redesigned. The landing gear was altered.

Dewoitine D.520:

Dewoitine D.521: Conversion with the Rolls-Royce Merlin III (1,030 HP) engine. Had two 20 mm cannons in the wings. In February 1940 was its first flight.

Dewoitine D.524: Had Hispano-Suiza 12Z (1,200 HP) engine.

Usage

Used in combat by Bulgaria (150), France, Italy (72), and Romania (96).

Battle of France

There were only 36 D.520s operational by May 10, 1940.

First Use

Only 36 Dewoitine D.520s were delivered to one groupe de chasse, the GC 1/3, by May 1940. This groupe shot down three Hs 126s and one He 111 on May 13, 1940.

Germany

Vichy France

Were used as combat aircraft. 235 D.520s were used by the Vichy air force in France and 202 were used in Africa.

Ace

Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan of GC III/6 shot down 18 aircraft. He shot an additional 4 in other aircraft.

After World War II

A few of the D.520s that remained were converted to two seat trainers. The last of the D.520s were withdrawn from service in September 1953. These were a part of the Escadrille de Présentation of the Armée de l'Air.